Willie Nelson tapes a piece in the Pedernales Recording Studio for the US premiere of the Irish music series Other Voices on October 3, 2016. Suzanne Cordeiro for American-Statesman
Photo: Suzanne Cordeiro / For American-/Suzanne Cordeiro for AMERICAN-ST

Willie Nelson's marijuana business keeps growing with new product line

The Willie Nelson press release all but whispers temptation: “Go West, young man and get high in the country.”

Not me, I say. I was raised along the banks of Whiskey River, and I intend to stay there. But if you’re the sort of Willie fan who intends to roll ‘em up and smoke ‘em before you die, keep reading.

The press release wafted in from Denver, announcing that Willie’s Reserve — Willie’s own cannabis business — was introducing a new product line: SunGrown, “beautifully crafted cannabis raised outdoors throughout Colorado and Washington.”

Yes “terpene-rich strains” of cannabis for those who prefer their marijuana grown by independent farmers in rich earth, under blue skies — but only available in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Nevada.

Google Maps says you can drive to Denver in just over 14 hours. You can fly there tomorrow, nonstop, from the Austin airport in just over 2 hours for just over $400.

"We're on the right side of history," the press release quotes Willie as saying. "People have spoken with their votes and their dollars. Now that we've proven regulating and taxing is good for individuals and business and states, it's pretty clear that pot is good for America."

If joints aren’t your jam, the press release has an answer to that, too. Annie’s Edibles — Annie Nelson’s “signature whole-plant infused chocolates” — will now be available in Colorado for the first time. We wrote about Annie’s Edibles last year when they hit the shelves in Washington.

In addition to artisanal chocolates, Willie’s wife is also selling “infused hard candies” in flavors such as “Honeysuckle Hot” and “Fresh Maple Blossom.”

The SunGrown line joins numerous other Willie’s Reserve products, and a recent Bloomberg story says Willie’s brand has raised $12 million to fund expansion efforts.